Proven skincare does exist…you just have to know what to look for.

While genetics often play a role in beautiful, glowing skin, it’s really how you care for your skin every day that has the biggest impact. A consistent routine is the best way to make your complexion glow. But with so many choices on the market, selecting the right products can seem daunting. How do you find the ideal regimen, and how do you know that it works? 

When choosing a routine for your skin type and goals, a few criteria stand out above the rest.

Results

The biggest question is whether your skincare routine will create the results you want. Today, we can rely on science to support product claims. To find proven skincare, look for products and ingredients backed by scientific studies and testing.

For years we knew that gold leaf, our heritage ingredient, is beneficial for skin, but we wanted to prove it. In 2017, Makanai sponsored a study at the Graduate School of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences at Kanazawa University to evaluate gold flakes’ effect on fibroblast cells, which are connective tissue cells that promote skin elasticity and a youthful appearance. The study showed that gold leaf helps increase production of normal human dermal fibroblast (NHDF) cells by up to 137%, compared to the control group. Of course, this data supports what we’ve known all along: gold is proven to promote youthful and radiant skin.

Ingredients

Which brings us to the importance of the ingredients themselves. Unless you’re a chemist, it can be confusing to wade through a long ingredient list on a skincare product. One shortcut is to look for thoughtful formulations with key ingredients that target some of your specific skincare goals.

Makanai was born out of the centuries-old tradition of making gold leaf. This luxurious ingredient is paired with other carefully chosen components inspired by the gold paper-making process.

• Persimmon leaf targets pores, acne, dullness and inflammation.
• Eggshell membrane address dryness and lack of elasticity.
• Soybean sterol helps fight dryness, wrinkle and dark spots.

Choosing products with clean, safe, solution-based ingredients is key.

Consistency

No matter what type of products you choose, it’s the daily good habit of caring for your skin that truly makes a difference. Establishing a morning and nighttime ritual not only integrates moments of self-care into your day, it gives the skin necessary cleansing and nourishment at consistent intervals.

A basic three-step routine is easy to maintain and satisfies the skin’s needs to look its best.

• Cleanse with a gentle cleanser to wash away makeup and impurities from skin.
• Tone with refine skin and prep for hydration.
• Moisturize with a lightweight serum and layer with a hydrating cream.

Skincare doesn’t have to be time-consuming or complicated. It’s an opportunity to put your best face forward—and with a few simple guidelines, the right routine is waiting to bring some precious me-time (and a healthy glow) to your day.